Thanks guys. @Ron, I'm definitely going to install the extension. It's running good, but not great. It's popping a bit on deceleration which is telling me it needs a small adjustment, but I'm not going to mess with it this weekend.

Yo everybody! I bought a DRZ400-s early this year and wanted to weigh in on a couple of things if nobody minds...

For the dude deciding between the S and SM models: Go with the S. Like dude said, the inverted forks don't have any real performance advantage, and in my opinion they are at a disadvantage for hardcore off roading because they are more exposed and could get scored by rocks and crap if you go down on rough terrain. When off roading, ground clearance is a huge issue. The S model with big wheels has lots more clearance. It makes a difference. Wheelies are easier with a high center of gravity anyway ;) If you want to hit the road hard just keep an extra set of street tires or better yet wheels around to pop on when you feel like it.

As for tires, I switched from from the mostly dirt dunlop D606 to a Shinko 244 "Golden Boy" trail tire. It has loads of grip compared to the Dunlop and is much more stable! Very confidence-inspiring on the road for such an aggressive tread, and so far great in dirt too, and I take it some muddy places... One of the cheapest tire sets you can get for the S wheels too, about $100 for the set! Supposedly the tread life is good. Can't go wrong.

I put 5k miles on a rear shinko 244 on my previous bike (Yamaha XT250), sold the bike and it still had some thread on there.

So far i got 2k+ miles on my Front/Rear 244's on the Drz, the front is still pretty much like new, the rear i would say is at %75+ life left.

My neighbor has the D606'S, bike has a little over 2k miles on it, and he is allready on his second set.

The shinkos do good pretty much everywhere, especially on the street, (i have the bike in the 90's pretty much every time i come back home from the trails, they do fine at those higher speeds) not too bad in the mud/rain either.

When this set goes, ill be ordering another set, cant beat the $90 price tag for a front/rear shipped.

Hows the shinko 244 in the twisties? It looks similar to the Kenda k270 and that was one of the scariest rears i've use. it always wanted to slide out on me. even slow stuff in parking lots i was leaving skid marks...I attributed it to the flimsy knobs on the outside of the tire. Looks like the 244 is a little more rugged.

Copy that, I'm just reading and looking...for that right one, when the time comes! I appreciate all the intel.
Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by bastardbiker

Yo everybody! I bought a DRZ400-s early this year and wanted to weigh in on a couple of things if nobody minds...

For the dude deciding between the S and SM models: Go with the S. Like dude said, the inverted forks don't have any real performance advantage, and in my opinion they are at a disadvantage for hardcore off roading because they are more exposed and could get scored by rocks and crap if you go down on rough terrain. When off roading, ground clearance is a huge issue. The S model with big wheels has lots more clearance. It makes a difference. Wheelies are easier with a high center of gravity anyway ;) If you want to hit the road hard just keep an extra set of street tires or better yet wheels around to pop on when you feel like it.

As for tires, I switched from from the mostly dirt dunlop D606 to a Shinko 244 "Golden Boy" trail tire. It has loads of grip compared to the Dunlop and is much more stable! Very confidence-inspiring on the road for such an aggressive tread, and so far great in dirt too, and I take it some muddy places... One of the cheapest tire sets you can get for the S wheels too, about $100 for the set! Supposedly the tread life is good. Can't go wrong.

Hows the shinko 244 in the twisties? It looks similar to the Kenda k270 and that was one of the scariest rears i've use. it always wanted to slide out on me. even slow stuff in parking lots i was leaving skid marks...I attributed it to the flimsy knobs on the outside of the tire. Looks like the 244 is a little more rugged.

I've got about 300 miles on my set of 244's, and I'll echo the others, they're great. I love them in the twisters as well. They're great for a knobbie.

howdy,
i want to get one of these new drz400, but i'm short. 29" inseam, i tippy toe the bike. i found a site that 1.75" lowering links for $100. has anyone here use them? how hard are they to install?

carlclaflin-
Lowering links seem like they would be pretty simple install. I wouldn't let that stop me from getting a DRZ.
I would also recommend that you ride it a bit before throwing money at modifications. It's not a heavy bike, and is easily tipped a bit to flat foot one side at stops. You can also get a low seat (seat concepts is nice) that will gain you an inch or so. You will most likely want a new seat anyhow...most do.